Symphoricarpos plant named ‘KOLMASYWHI’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Symphoricarpos plant named ‘KOLMASYWHI’ that is characterized by its short branches, its white berries, and its suitability for use as a container plant.

Botanical classification: Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii.

Variety denomination: ‘KOLMASYWHI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii that will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘KOLMASYWHI’. The new cultivar represents a new cultivar of snowberry or coralberry that is used as a landscape and container plant.

The new Invention arose from an ongoing controlled breeding program in Heelsum, The Netherlands. The objective was to elect a new cultivar of Symphoricarpos with white berries, short branches and a compact plant habit that is suitable for growing in containers. The new cultivar arose from open pollination in August of 2012 of an unnamed and unpatented proprietary plant in the Inventor's breeding program, reference no. 10-27, as the female parent. The male parent is therefore unknown. ‘KOLMASYWHI’ was selected from amongst the resulting seedlings as a single unique plant in October of 2015.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished under the direction of the Inventor using softwood stem cuttings in November of 2015 in Boskoop, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘KOLMASYWHI’ as a new and unique cultivar of Symphoricarpos.

-   -   1. ‘KOLMASYWHI’ exhibits short branches.     -   2. ‘KOLMASYWHI’ exhibits white berries.     -   3. ‘KOLMASYWHI’ exhibits suitability for use as a container         plant.

The female parent of ‘KOLMASYWHI’ differs from ‘KOLMASYWHI’ in having a longer branches and side shoots, and weaker branches. ‘KOLMASYWHI’ can be most closely compared to the Symphoricarpos cultivars ‘Kolmava’ (not patented) and ‘Kolmawhidre’ (not patented). ‘Kolmava’ and ‘Kolmawhidre’ are both similar to ‘KOLMASYWHI’ in having white berries. ‘Kolmava’ and ‘Kolmawhidre’ both differ from ‘KOLMASYWHI’ in having much longer branches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Symphoricarpos 3 years in age as grown outdoors in a 3-gallon container in Dayton, Oreg.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the plant habit of ‘KOLMASYWHI’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the inflorescences of ‘KOLMASYWHI’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Symphoricarpos.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 3-year-old plants of the new Symphoricarpos as grown outdoors in a 3-gallon container in Dayton, Oreg. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—June to July in The Netherlands.         -   Plant habit.—Compact mound, short stems.         -   Plant size.—Average of 30 cm in height, 33 cm in diameter,             mature plant in landscape; an average of 60 cm in height and             width.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, 161C in color.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Root development.—Roots initiate in about 6 weeks in June,             10 weeks in January and fully root as young plant in about             one year, two years for a young plant to produce berries.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem color.—New growth; 145A, mature wood; 151A and             moderately flushed with 178A, bark 199A and N199B.         -   Branch size.—Main branches; up to 8 cm in length and 1 cm in             diameter, lateral branches; an average of 11 cm in length, 2             mm in diameter.         -   Branch surface.—New growth; glabrous and glossy, mature wood             is dull and smooth and becoming bark-like as it ages.         -   Branching.—4 main branches, average of 14 lateral branches             per main branch.         -   Internode length.—Average of 3 cm on lateral branches, 6 cm             to 8 cm in main branches. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Obtuse to elliptic.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Rounded.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, inconspicuous, colors matches leaf             surface colors.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite and whorled down branches.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous and matte on upper surface and lower             surface.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 2.2 cm in length and 2.1 cm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 20 pair per lateral branch.         -   Leaf color.—Young; both surfaces 143A and 144A, mature;             upper surface NN137A and 137B, lower surface 191A.         -   Stipules.—None. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single campanulate flowers             arranged in terminal spikes or solitary in leaf axils;             freely flowering habit with 2 to 10 flowers per spike.         -   Flower aspect.—Flowers face outwardly to drooping.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity.—Average of 5 days, not persistent.         -   Fruit longevity.—Average of 1 month.         -   Flower buds.—Average of 3 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter,             oval in shape, matte surface, color; when developing; 63A,             mature before burst a blend of 65C and 68A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 6 cm in length, 4 cm in             diameter.         -   Flowers.—Average of 6 mm in length, 4 mm in diameter.         -   Petals.—5, arranged in a single whorl, 60% fused into base,             4 mm in length, 2 mm in width, broadly elliptic in shape,             acute apex, entire margins, outer surface glabrous, inner             surface pubescent, color; outer and inner surface when             opening and fully open base and margins 155C, centers 73B,             tips N74A.         -   Sepals.—5, arranged in a single whorl, fused below the             apices, average of 0.3 mm in length, 0.5 mm in width at the             widest point, acute apex, entire margins, inner and outer             surface glabrous, color; inner and outer surface 144B, outer             tips flushed with 183A.         -   Calyx.—Funnelform, 1 mm in length and diameter.         -   Peduncles.—Strong, 1 mm in width, glabrous and matte             surface, color; young 145A, maturing 145A and flushed with             182A, mature 175A.         -   Pedicels.—None, sessile to peduncle. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistils; 1, average of 3 mm in length, stigma;             club-shaped, average of 0.5 mm in width, 22A in color,             style; average of 2.5 mm in length, NN155C in color, ovary;             average of 0.5 mm in diameter, 149A in color.         -   Androecium.—Stamens; 5, 3.5 mm in length, anthers;             flattened, narrow oblong in shape, average of 0.5 mm in             width, 0.3 mm in depth, 11C in color, filament 3 mm in             length, glossy, NN155D in color, surrounded by thin             translucent fur-like hairs NN155D in color, pollen; no             pollen observed.         -   Fruits.—An average 7 clusters of berries per branch, 17             berries per cluster, average of 1 cm in diameter, 9 mm in             depth, spherical slightly flattened in shape, smooth in             texture, matte, color; young fruit 144B, maturing fruit a             blend of 143C and 144D, mature fruit 157D.         -   Seeds.—Average of length 3 mm, average of 2 mm in diameter,             158A in color. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Symphoricarpos plant named ‘KOLMASYWHI’ as herein illustrated and described. 